Ludington is a good place, I am making a return trip to Houghton lake this summer about 4hr from NWI. We camped it a couple summers ago and had a great time, I think they have cabins at the State Park on Higgins lake just to the north of it. Lots of rental cabins around Houghton, fairly shallow, water warms pretty fast, good family fun lake, and decent fishing. Higgins is deeper but holds some decent perch and trout fishing. A little farther North are Mullet and Burt lakes and 45 miles of waterway in the chain or lakes with some decent fishing also. Camped 5 days at Mullet last year, good time but too short a trip, will be heading up for at least a week again this summer.